Braided tubular textile mat



Jan. 15 1924.

J. F. FENTON v BRAZIJED TUBULAR TEXTILE MAT Filed- Feb. 10 I 1921 Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

.UNITED sra'rss PATENT OFFICE.

BRAIDED TUIBU TEXTILE MAT.

Application filed February 10, 19521.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. Pmuno'ron Fun- TON, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Atlantic City, Atlantic County, State. of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Braided Tubular Textile Mat as a New Article of Manufacture Composed. Wholly of Core-Filled Textile Tubular Braiding, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the acconr panying drawings. forming a part thereof. My invention relates generally to braided textile tubular products, usually produced, in the braiding process, with a filling cord or cords within. the braided tube fed into the tube as it is formed 011 the well known tu-- bular braiding machine, and my invention specifically relates to and has for its object the utilization of such core filled braided tubes in the formation therefrom, of mats and rugs as a new article of manufacture. To this end my invention consists, as a new article of manufacture, of a mat or the like composed wholly of a series of contiguous strands of textile tubular braid, having longitudinal filling threats therein forming a loose or unattached core, the adjacent strands of tubular braid, in the series, being united to each other, in succession, by a series of tansversely COIIIIGL'tlIlg sewing stitches each of which engages opposite abutting edges of such acent strands.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mat or rug, partly broken away at one edge to show the tubir lar fabric of whichit iscomposed and to add to the illustration by Fig. 2 which is a section on the line 2-2 enlarged, of Fig. 1. in Fig. 3 is shown a fragl'nentary like plan View of a mat or rug composed of a plurality of braided tubes, and differing from Fig. 1 only in the connection between the ends of the strands. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the core-filled tubular strands of which the mat or rug is composed, clearly showing the tubular strands as braided tubes. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the method and means of sewing together the abutting walls of adjacent tu bular strands, without engagement with the non-integral core or filling therein.

Referring now to said drawings, the braided tube is indicated at 1, and its core or filling thread or threads at 2. These are shown in Fig. 4, and as part of the completed mat or rug in the broken away part alcrial No. did-3,760.

in Fig. 1. As is well known, filled tubular braiding, as shown in Fig. 4, is made on a circular braiding machine, whereon the threads forming the tube are fed to devices moving in circular horizontal planes in. opposite direction to interlace them, while the core or filling is inserted. by threads fed vertically to and within the tube as it is formed by the machine; the filling however being merely a thread or threads which is not attached to the braided tube.

'lfo construct a mat or rug from such a filled braided tube, it is started at the centre, say at i, and the tubular strands laid side by side, to form a round, oval, square or any other shape, the extreme end of the tubular strand, as indicated at 6 being grad.- ually reduced in diameter by removal of part of the filling near such end. This will form a mat, such as exemplified in an oval form shown in Fig. 1, in which the abutting edges of the convoluted strand or strands are then to be united by a character of stitching which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, will unite the abutting walls of contiguous strands without passing through the core or fillings, a means of uniting them which may be readily and effectually done by use of a sewing machine, well known, which has a mow able needle forming a stitch passing downward through one strand, indicated attl. Figs. 2 and 5 and through the adj accnt strand as indicated at 3*, with a connection between them as indicated at 3 in said [igures, this method of connecting the abutting edges of adjacent strands being of great value not only as imparting a finished appearance to the resultant product, but main taining it flat without curling or buckling and also preserving the resiliency of the core-filled tubes constituting the completed mat, for the reason that such transverse stitches do not bind. the core or filling but merely connect adjacent walls of the braided tube; but obviously hand sewing for so uniting the adjacent strands may be employed.

If the mat is small in area one long tubular strand may be sufficient to form it, but it, and especially largo rugs may be made of a large number of such tubular strands. It extremely desirable to form therefrom a single continuous strand by connecting the ends of a plurality of strands by means which will effect the splicing readily and without stitching or using any added'element or applied. stitching, in other words make a practically integral join; and to that end I recommend a method and means for so doing,'which are fully shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent therefor granted to L. Binns, No. 330,087, dated November 10, 1885. The use of that method of splicing the connecting ends of a plurality of strands of tubular braiding, or rather. the result of its use, is shown, for example in Fig. 1, wh$ 36iI1, when the. mat is, formed of a plurality of tubular strands'so connected the joints are wholly imperceptible, are strong, make. no difference in thickness or": the finished mat, and: are practically integral with the body portions of the "connected tubular strands. I

As my invented new article of manufacture may be exemplified without using. that method of splicing the ends connected strands, I have shown inFig. similar mat, save only that the meetin ends of tu bular strands are sewed toget 161, as indicated at 7 in said Fig. 3, but the former described method. and means of splicing or connecting them is obviously. preferable and adds to the'longevity and utility oi'the completed mat on rug.

The utility of such a product, composed of such filled textile tubular braid, and its field of usefulness for the purposes hereinai ter mentioned, will be obvious when called to attention, for. example, for table mats to support hot dishes, a substitute for the, solid mats made from fibre or other material usually used for such purpose; also for floor rugs or mats. The special utility of my new product for such purposes resides in the fact that the mat or rug, which is formed from such filled tubular braided strand by simply laying the tubular strands side by side, beginningv at the centre, and uniting adjacent strands to each other as above described, is elastic and resilient in vertical cross section, hence will efiectually resist a matting efiect common with carpet or rugs which are woven, and always retain the elas tic tread surface; the fillingv strand or strands may be composed of asbestos fibre or other heat insulating material, if table mats are to be made; the mat or rug may be made oi -any shape, square, oval or round, while ornamental colors may be introduced in any arrangement of them by use of different c0lored braided tubes of which the mat or rug is to be composed; while for table mats the smaller diameter of tubing can be used, and braided from silk, yarn or other line variety of textile threads, and with a core or filling of asbestos threads.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As a new article of imuiut'acture, a table mat composed wholly of a strand of tubular textile braid having therein a non-integral core or. filling consisting of longitudinally-disposed asbestos thread; and a series of transversely disposed connecting stitches, each of which engages the two opposite and vertically abutting edges or adjacent tubular. members of the strand, in succession, in the series, and without sub-- stantial engagement with the core or filling. therein.

2. a new article of manufacture, a mat composed wholly of a series of contiguous strands of textile tubular braid having therein a non-integral core or fillingof longitudinally disposed threads, said strands in the series being connected to each other, in succession, by. transversely disposed connevting stitches, each of which engages the two opposite and vertically abutting. edges ot the tubular. membersof adjacent strands, with out substantial engagement with the core or filling therein.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature this seventh day 0t February A. D. 1921.

J. PURINGTON FENTON.

Witnesses Wi A. HAMILTON, I. Mg. 'IUNIs. 

